Property round-up: Urban Splash announces raft of lettings; woodland plan for landfill site; and more
DEVELOPER Urban Splash has said that it managed to complete 52 deals on more than 122,000 sq ft of space within the past six months.
The company, which is headquartered in Manchester, has completed the deals on space across its portfolio, including 20,000 sq ft to gym operator Fit For Free at The Matchbox in Liverpool, 8,000 sq ft to crossfit gym operator Train Manchester in Castlefield and even the letting of its pod building overlooking the Mancunian Way.
Outside of the region, it has completed several lettings at Royal Willilam Yard in Plymouth including a 5,00 sq ft unit to Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall for a River Cottage restaurant and two retail units at Fort Dunlop in Birmingham to Vans and North Face.
The firm’s head of lettings Emily Handslip said: “We’ve had a recession-defying period of success and are delighted with the calibre of tenants our portfolio has attracted.”
“It’s encouraging to see that the take-up of space has been consistent geographically and across the expanse of uses our buildings offer – from retail, office, leisure, restaurant and industrial.”
The firm said that around 88% of its 2m sq ft of commercial space is currently let.
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THE Duke of Portland pub in the Cheshire village of Lach Dennis has been placed on the market.
Christie + Co has been appointed to assign the lease for the large dining inn on Penny’s Lane next to the Church of All Saints within the affluent village. 
The business draws trade from the villages of Lower Peover, Alderley Edge and Holmes Chapel, as well as the nearby Gadbrook Business Park. It also has its owned wedding barn, beer gardens and car parking.
The business has a turnover of around £362,000 a year and costs £52,000 a year to rent on a lease which is not due to expire until 2023.
Keith Stringer at Christie + Co’s Manchester Office said: “The business is offered with a nil premium lease and the clients are looking for a contribution of £75,000 towards fixtures and fittings.”
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A NEW tourist attraction is set to be created at the former Bromborough landfill site now known as Port Sunlight River Park.
Some £2.2m of funds have been made available which will go towards creating a new community woodland on the 28-hectare site, which is close to the Port sunlight Heritage Village and offers views across to Liverpool’s waterfront to the Liverpool Waterfront site.
The site is the flagship project of the Mersey Coastal Park Strategy, part of Wirral Council’s regeneration vision for East Wirral designed to re-connect communities with the River Mersey.
Cllr Jeff Green, Leader of Wirral Council said: “This is fantastic news for Wirral as we turn an eyesore into a tourist attraction.
“With the Government’s backing of £2.2 million and the Council’s commitment to transform this site, we will be able to improve the access from villages such as Port Sunlight down to the coast. “
Development partners will include Biffa Waste, The Land Trust, The Forestry Commission, Wirral Council and Port Sunlight Village Trust.
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PEEL Land & Property has let space at The Victoria building in Salford Quays to US-based exams testing company Prometric.
The company, which handles more than 10m tests a year for clients, is planning to open a new testing centre on the seventh floor of the building.
Senior property manager Paul Chappels said: “We are delighted that Prometric has seen the benefit of being located at The Victoria.
“Securing a letting of such quality in these challenging times is testament to our product and service. The Victoria is an excellent building providing Grade A office space in a great location. Occupiers benefit from easy access to transport links and plenty of amenities close by.”
Prometric’s chief operating officer Charles Kernan said: “Our Manchester operation will be able to serve the needs of our local clients and testing candidates, while providing the reach we need to support our wider European client base and business development strategies.”
The Manchester office of Colliers acted for Prometric and Edwards & Co acted for Peel Land & Property.
Meanwhile, Peel has also let a 1,163 sq ft unit at its Princes Dock development in Liverpool to an independent operator who will trade on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park as Princes Dock Newsagent and Convenience Store. The unit will be next to the Bean Coffee shop.
Owner Mohamed Abdo said: “Princes Dock is an excellent location for us to open a convenience store, the number of people based on site as well as the number of visitors to the development each year presents us with an excellent opportunity to do business here.”
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VOGUE Bars has agreed a deal to let a retail unit at 23-27 Bacup Road in Rawtenstall from Hurstwood.
The 6,000 sq ft former furniture shop is set to become a new late night venue for the town.
Sarah Boddy from Vogue Bars said: “We picked the unit due to its size and location close to town centre taxi ranks and the bus station but away from residential areas. It’s going to be a late night venue, primarily open Friday and Saturday nights from 7pm to 4am, with live music, bands and a DJ later on.”
Hurstwood said that an adjoining 2,000 sq ft retail unit is still available and is suitable for a variety of uses including restaurant and bar.
